OHB Italia S.p.A. Agenzia Spaziale Italiana Blue Skies Space #astronomy #SwarmSatellites #Moon #EarlyUniverse #SpaceInnovation #SpaceExploration #science #future #RadioSignals #LunarOrbit #NewSpaceEconomy https://lnkd.in/dKxFMZQJ
#RADIOLUNA: AN ORBITING RADIO TELESCOPE AROUND THE MOON TO UNCOVER THE DARK AGES OF THE UNIVERSE RadioLuna is an innovative space project that will deploy, for the first time, a high-angular-resolution radio telescope in orbit around the #Moon, using a novel space system architecture based on the optimal exploitation of existing space communication and GNSS service infrastructures. The mission is led by the Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI) and Blue Skies Space Italia, with the technological contribution of OHB Italia S.p.A. It will be implemented through a #swarm of low-cost small satellites, operating together as a single, large scientific instrument. Each #satellite will serve as a node within a radio-frequency interferometric system, forming a synthetic aperture telescope in lunar orbit. The mission's primary objective is to investigate the “#DarkAges”, a still unexplored era in the history of the universe, between the emission of the cosmic microwave background and the birth of the first stars. The program is designed to deliver high scientific return with limited resources, by leveraging existing infrastructures and embracing a new-generation approach based on Public-Private Partnerships (#PPP). “RadioLuna is a challenge where scientific ambition meets engineering pragmatism,” stated Roberto Aceti, Managing Director of OHB Italia. “We are proud to contribute to the development of an observatory that could open new frontiers in our understanding of the early universe, bringing to the mission our expertise and our #M3 platform.” A true paradigm shifts for space astrophysics. RadioLuna offers an alternative and complementary approach to the traditional model of “ever-larger”, “more complex”, and “increasingly expensive” telescopes. In the current landscape, where cost #sustainability is a critical factor, space astrophysics must explore new and scalable pathways, as underlined from ASI. The mission will explore a crucial, lightless phase in cosmic history, rich in ultra-low-frequency #radio signals that can only be detected in radio-quiet environments such as lunar orbit. As technical subcontractor, OHB Italia S.p.A. Italia is responsible for the “#PlatformDefinition” Work Package, which includes analyzing the compatibility of the M3 satellite platform with the scientific payload; evaluating launch opportunities for small satellites to lunar orbit; and studying the integration with ESA’s Moonlight infrastructure, which will provide positioning and communication services in the cislunar environment. This forward-looking philosophy shows the full potential of Italy’s industrial, scientific, and programmatic capabilities, positioning the Country as a leader in the scientific utilization of #cislunarspace, while simultaneously fostering innovation across a broad range of sectors. Credit: B. Wilcock/Blue Skies Sp. Moon made using NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio www.ohb-italia.it #OHBItalia #BlueSkiesSpaceItalia #EarlyUniverse